Digital Commons Network^™

Dissolution Or Restructuring? Fiscal Implications For Taxpayers In Special Tax Districts: A Case Study Of The Reedy Creek Improvement District, Tasha Huber

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Although extensive research has examined the creation and function of special tax districts in the U.S., little research has been done regarding the fiscal and governance implications of dissolution of these entities. This study examines the fiscal outcomes of dissolution versus restructuring special districts, using the former Reedy Creek Improvement District as the primary case study. Using a qualitative approach, the analysis compares restructuring and dissolution cases in California, Vermont, and Tennessee. Drawing on publicly available material such as financial documents, media coverage, and legislative records, this research evaluates impacts on taxpayer burden. Findings suggest that dissolving large, active special …

Expenditure Management Strategies For Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability In South Korea, Jaehyun Ryu

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This capstone examines strategies for managing government expenditures to secure long-term fiscal sustainability in South Korea. Although South Korea currently maintains a relatively low public debt-to-GDP ratio compared with other OECD countries, rapid population aging, slowing economic growth, and the continued expansion of mandatory expenditures pose significant long-term fiscal risks. Given the political and economic constraints associated with tax increases and growth-led debt management, this study focuses on expenditure management as a primary and feasible policy instrument for sustaining fiscal soundness.

The research combines empirical analysis with comparative case studies. First, the study examines the relationship between government debt and …

A Comparative Policy Analysis Of Lung Cancer, Maternal Mortality, And Obesity, Destiny M. Rucker, Rhonda M. Lawson, Trinity Olmstead

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky has significantly poorer outcomes than peer states across key women's health indicators. This capstone focuses on lung cancer, maternal mortality, and obesity to evaluate the structural and policy factors behind these disparities. Using a quantitative comparative research design, the study analyzes secondary data from sources including CDC WONDER, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), America’s Health Rankings, and the March of Dimes. Data were analyzed in Excel to create comparative figures, benchmarking Kentucky’s outcomes against the U.S. average and four regional peer states: Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and Virginia. These states were chosen for their demographic and geographic similarities …

Ai Data Center Boom: An Analysis Of Economic And Legislative Impacts, Shelby Jackson

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The United States is currently experiencing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center boom due to increased demand for generative AI following the launch of models such as ChatGPT. Data centers, particularly hyperscale data centers, have become a flashpoint due to environmental and public health concerns, along with rising utility costs. Although more than 70% of Americans do not want data centers in their community, state and local governments often offer tax incentives to attract data center development with the aim of job creation and tax revenue.

This study assessed whether the financial benefits that AI data centers may offer state …

A Comparative Analysis Of Governance And Financial Frameworks In Public Transit Systems: A Case Study Of Lextran And Peer Transit Agencies, Kelin E. Beattie

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Public transportation serves as a vital community "lifeline," providing essential mobility for the 45% of Americans without private vehicle access and generating a 5-to-1 economic return on investment. This research investigates a critical fiscal paradox within Lextran, the transit authority for Lexington, Kentucky: despite achieving a cost per passenger trip 22% lower than the national peer average, the agency faces a $25.95 million unfunded capital gap over the current five-year planning horizon. Utilizing a comparative case study methodology, this paper evaluates the "rules of the game"—the hybrid governance and fiscal frameworks—that influence long-term financial sustainability.

The study benchmarks Lextran against …

Allocation And Governance Of Opioid Response Funding In Rural Kentucky: A Case Study Of The Big Sandy Area Development District, Hayley M. Mccarty

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The opioid epidemic continues to present significant public health, economic, and administrative challenges throughout the United States, with rural Kentucky experiencing some of the nation's highest rates of opioid-related morbidity and mortality.

Effectively responding to this crisis requires not only adequate financial resources but also transparent governance, coordinated implementation, and accountability for how public funds are distributed.

This study examines the allocation, governance, and implementation of opioid response funding within the Big Sandy Area Development District (BSADD), a rural multi-county region in eastern Kentucky. Using a qualitative case study and policy analysis approach, the research evaluates four primary funding sources: …

Best Practices For Budgeting In Small Non-Profit Organizations: The Arts Commission Of Danville/Boyle County, Esther Rugerio

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Nonprofit arts organizations face unique financial management challenges due to limited staffing, restricted funding sources, and fluctuating revenue streams. This thesis examines the Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County located in Danville, KY. It identifies opportunities to strengthen financial oversight, accountability, and long-term sustainability. Using a qualitative research approach and document-based analysis, the study evaluated organizational budgets, governance documents, and nonprofit financial management best practices.

The findings revealed several areas for improvement, including reliance on line-item budgeting, recurring use of carry-forward funds, limited board financial oversight, fiscal sponsorship complexities, and a lack of formal financial policies. Recommendations include adopting a program-informed …

Should Kentucky Adopt A Formal Statewide Framework To Address The Local Fiscal Effects Of Tax-Exempt Public Universities On Host Communities?, Trina Shields, Catie Baumstark

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky’s public universities provide significant educational, economic, and workforce development benefits to the Commonwealth. However, because these institutions are exempt from local property taxes, questions arise about the fiscal effects on the communities that host them. While the benefits generated by universities extend beyond municipal boundaries, the fiscal effects of tax-exempt property are often concentrated within host communities. As universities expand their campuses and acquire additional property, local governments may face increased demands for public services without a corresponding increase in property tax revenue.

This study examines whether Kentucky should adopt a formal statewide framework to address the local fiscal …

Calculus In Context: The Five College Calculus Project, James Callahan, Kenneth Hoffman, David Cox, Donal O'Shea, Harriet Pollatsek, Lester Senechal

Open Educational Resources: Textbooks

Calculus in Context: The Five College Calculus Project is a thorough reframing of what it means to learn calculus. It starts with a “clean slate;” there is no presumptive commitment to any aspect of the traditional course. Instead, the curriculum is guided by the following principles:

• Calculus is fundamentally a way of dealing with functional relationships that occur in scientific and mathematical contexts. The techniques of calculus must be subordinate to an overall view of the underlying questions.
• Technology radically enlarges the range of questions we can explore and the ways we can answer them. Computers can be engaged as …

Formal Neutrality And Unequal Liability: How Algorithmic Aversion Distorts Liability For Algorithmic Torts, Gao, Jingkang

Santa Clara Law Review

The shift in the cause of machine-induced harm from mechanical failures to algorithmic decision- making is challenging the applicability of products liability. Because algorithms now operate machines analogously to humans, a doctrinally coherent response is to subject algorithmic torts to a negligence framework that evaluates the reasonableness of decisions rather than the content of algorithms. This approach offers a theoretically grounded, formally neutral, and normatively appealing solution. In practice, however, it may result in unequal liability. Even under a negligence regime, algorithmic decision- makers may face systematically greater liability if injured parties are more inclined to pursue litigation against algorithmic …

An Elective Wealth Tax, Reis, Eric

Santa Clara Law Review

Foes of wealth inequality face a basic dilemma. Economic restraints make it impractical to tax income at the very high rates needed to address inequality, while constitutional restraints likely make it impossible to tax principal (wealth) directly.

This problem can be solved by marrying the two approaches. The wealthiest taxpayers would be put to a choice: Pay very high income tax rates, or pay more typical income tax rates along with a wealth tax. Because the proposed wealth tax would be voluntary, it should avoid the constitutional difficulties that bedevil a conventional wealth tax. And because the increase in income …

What Ai Can’T Say: Oral Competence In Legal Education, Ho, Cynthia M.

Santa Clara Law Review

This Article brings together two critical conversations rarely considered in tandem – the impact of generative AI (GenAI) on legal education and the need for more practical skills – and argues for a shared solution centered on oral communication skills. Law schools have historically devoted substantial attention to teaching students how to write like lawyers, but not how to speak like one. Although a long-standing imbalance, the widespread use of GenAI in written work provides an additional urgent reason to place more emphasis on oral assignments.

This Article argues that doctrinal classes offer an underused, scalable opportunity to develop oral …

Don’T Breathe In: The Dangers Of Ssm Events And Why Repealing Affirmative Defenses Falls Short, Spring, Gillian

Santa Clara Law Review

From the Louisiana and Texas Gulf coasts to Wilmington, California, communities face disproportionately high cancer risks linked to excess hazardous emissions. This article examines the longstanding regulatory gaps that allow industrial facilities to emit excess levels of hazardous air pollution during startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) events. Despite the Clean Air Act’s enacted framework for controlling emissions, the EPA has created exemptions and affirmative defenses that shield polluters from civil penalties even when emissions exceed legal limits. Excess pollution emissions occur when air pollution levels exceed what is considered safe for human ingestion. When communities are subjected to certain pollutants, …

The Constitutional Ramifications Of Grants Pass, Galdamez, Alanis, Conway, Nicholas D., Slatkin, Ellen M.

Santa Clara Law Review

The brief and ambiguous wording of the Eighth Amendment has permitted courts to adopt a variety of interpretations. These interpretations have been applied inconsistently through different periods of the Amendment’s history, but the U.S. Supreme Court has never established a singular, definitive method for interpreting the Amendment. That is, until the 2024 decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, where the Court rejects any interpretation of the Eighth Amendment that is not strictly originalist in nature. This article analyzes the Court’s reasoning in Grants Pass and explores the potential consequences of adopting such a narrow interpretation of the …

Criminalizing Survival: How The Grants Pass Decision Is Intensifying The Homelessness Crisis In California And Beyond, Riley, Laura

Santa Clara Law Review

This article examines the intensifying criminalization of homelessness in the United States since the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which removed the ability of people to challenge laws under the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause that prohibit survival behaviors in public places like sitting, sleeping, or lying down. The article explores the legal and practical challenges in documenting criminalization of homelessness, analyzes national and California-specific legislative trends and enforcement practices, and assesses the impacts on unhoused populations. The article concludes with policy recommendations to shift the state of homelessness criminalization from one of punitive …

Preserving The Identity Of Historic Coptic Orthodox Monasteries In Egypt Under Contemporary Pressures: Case Studies Of St. Bishoy And St. Anthony Monasteries, George Medhat Adeeb, Mohamed Khairy Amin, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Sherbiny

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Historic Coptic Orthodox monasteries in Egypt (HCOMEs) represent an important component of Christian heritage, integrating architectural value with enduring spiritual traditions that reflect both tangible and intangible dimensions. However, contemporary development and changing functional demands are generating transformations that may affect their identity if not carefully managed. Despite extensive scholarship, limited research has systematically examined these transformations through a structured evaluative approach. This study addresses this gap by developing and applying an analytical and evaluation framework to examine how contemporary pressures influence the historical, architectural-spatial, and spiritual identity of HCOMEs, and to assess the effectiveness of monastic responses. The framework …

Remote Sensing-Based Rice Detection: Novel Indices From Optical And Sar Synergy, Kaifi Chomani

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Accurate rice mapping is challenging due to the lack of a simple, efficient approach and the complexity and limited ability of existing methods to distinguish rice fields from non-rice fields. This study proposes two novel indices: the Multispectral Rice Detection Index (MRDI), which utilises optical imagery, and the OptiRadar Rice Index (ORRI), which incorporates both optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. Ground-truth data from the Cropland Cropping Systems (CROS) were used to assess the performance of both indices. The findings indicated that MRDI achieved an overall accuracy of 97.97% with perfect recall (100%) but lower precision (78.65%). However, the …

Nutritional Management At 22-23 Weeks Gestational Age: Evidence And Knowledge Gaps, Mar Romero-Lopez, Mamta Naik, Melissa Thoene, Ann Anderson-Berry

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

With advancing medical capabilities, survival of infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation is increasing. However, specific recommendations for nutrition support for these infants are lacking. This review examines the unique characteristics of infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation that impact parenteral and enteral nutrition support, highlighting the lack of evidence and knowledge gaps for optimal practices. Current recommendations developed for extremely or very low birth weight infants may be unsuitable for infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation due to important differences in anatomy, physiology, body composition, and metabolic capabilities. Key challenges include severely limited intraluminal digestion, profound immune and microbiome …

Efficacy And Safety Of Anticoagulation For Pediatric Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Muayad Azzam, Hassan Kawtharany, Marisol Betensky, Aseel Alkhader, Qais Hamarsha, Hadi Khaled Abou Zeid, Razan Mansour, Carine Tabak, Payal Patel, Sarah Lamat Baghdadi, Rachel S. Bercovitz, Rukhmi Bhat, Tina Bliss, Brian R. Branchford, Leonard R. Brandão, Anthony K. C. Chan, E. Vincent S. Faustino, Julie Jaffray, Sophie Jones, Bryce A. Kerlin, Nicole Kucine, Riten Kumar, Christoph Male, Marie-Claude Pelland-Marcotte, Leslie Raffini, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Sarah E. Sartain, Clifford M. Takemoto, Cristina Tarango, C. Heleen Van Ommen, Maria C. Velez, Sara K. Vesely, John Wiernikowski, Suzan Williams, Hope P. Wilson, Gary Woods, Ayesha Zia, Paul Monagle, Reem A. Mustafa

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation therapy versus no anticoagulation in pediatric patients with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). Eligible studies included pediatric patients with CSVT that compared anticoagulation to no anticoagulation and reported on at least one relevant outcome (mortality, neurological deficit, thrombus resolution, recurrence, and bleeding). Meta-analysis reported risk ratios (RR) or differences (RD) (95% CIs) and absolute effects per 1000 patients. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated with GRADE. After removing duplicates, we screened 8925 records independently and in duplicate, from …

Frequency Ranking Of Imaging Biomarkers For Lung Cancer Risk Stratification Using A Hybrid Elastic Net Method, Mohamed Jaber, Emmy Stevens, Nezamoddin N. Kachouie

Mathematics and System Engineering Faculty Publications

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, emphasizing the critical need for novel and robust biomarkers to improve prognostication and guide precision oncology. While traditional clinical variables such as tumor stage, age, and sex are routinely used for survival prediction, their prognostic performance is limited. Imaging biomarkers derived from radiomic analysis of advanced medical imaging have emerged as a promising class of noninvasive cancer biomarkers, enabling quantitative characterization of tumor phenotypes. In this study, we investigated the prognostic utility of radiomic imaging biomarkers, with a particular focus on the texture-based feature Busyness, and compared their performance against …

The Underappreciated Role Of Rifampin In Shaping The Epidemiology Of Rt027-Like Clostridioides Difficile Lineages, Isabella A. Tickler, Richard V. Goering, Fred Tenover

Biology Faculty Publications

The global emergence and dissemination of epidemic Clostridioides difficile ribotype 027 (RT027) and related lineages illustrate the role of antimicrobial pressure in shaping the epidemiology of this pathogen. We propose a hierarchical model in which fluoroquinolones (FQs) served as the dominant selective force underlying the worldwide expansion of RT027-related strains, with rifampin and rifamycins acting as secondary modifiers that promoted persistence and regional dominance. ©

Integrating Routine Hiv Screening Into A Sexually Transmitted Infection Panel At An Opioid Addiction Treatment Facility: A Dnp Clinical Practice Change, Stephanie Bass

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

People who use drugs are at increased risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hepatitis B infection, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to high-risk behaviors, including needle sharing, incarceration, multiple sex partners, and unprotected sex. Individuals with substance use disorders are also at increased risk for liver dysfunction, renal impairment, and other medical comorbidities associated with chronic substance use. Although many organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommend routine screening and laboratory monitoring in high-risk populations, many addiction treatment facilities in the United States lack standardized protocols for bloodborne infection, STI screening, …

Evaluating The Effect Of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists On Health Outcomes, Charlie Musslewhite

IdeaFest 2026

Evaluation the efficacy of GLP-1s on health outcomes, whether or not they actually produce a net positive for overall health.

Potawat Community Food Garden, Lulu Voss

IdeaFest 2026

I partnered with Potawat Community Food Garden to advocate for native food sovereignty. I contribute to bountiful harvests by weeding, pruning, planting, and tending to crops in the garden. This matters because I help foster a safe and peaceful garden haven that builds a healthy community and supports hundreds of people struggling with food insecurity. Through this experience, I learned how to eat to promote the health of my body and mind and helped spread this knowledge to the community.

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Language Tools In English Language Learning For Flight Attendant Learners, Qianying Pu, Amelia Binti Alias, Khairul Azhar Bin Jamaludin

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study analyzes AI language tools aiding English learning for aspiring flight attendants, focusing on fluency, pronunciation, and communication skills. Considering the aviation industry’s very high language requirements, this research examines how AI language tools help flight attendants master English and improve their speech and pronunciation.  A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews was adopted for the present study with flight attendants and aviation English educators. The study highlights major themes such as Increased Confidence through Repetition and Feedback, Pronunciation Improvement Enabled by an AI-specific feature, Pedagogical Gaps and Instructor Apathy, and Limitations in Contextual Appropriateness. This study concludes that …

The Digital Divide Among Urban University Students, J.B. Oleet, Chien Yu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The purpose of this study was to examine urban university students’ post-pandemic experiences with the digital divide, focusing on Motivational, Physical, Skills, and Usage Access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) based on van Dijk’s resources and appropriation theory. The study revealed students’ positive perceptions of their digital divide experiences. Intrinsic Motivational Access (IMA) scored particularly high, indicating a strong internal drive to engage with ICTs, while Physical Access (PA) showed discrepancies in access to specialized tools like programming software. Students displayed high competency in Operational, Informational, and Strategic Skills Access, with significant correlations between Physical and Operational Skills Access. …

Virtual Nature-Exposure And Slow Breathing Interactive Effect On Stress, Mari Sanchez, J.P. Benefiel, J. Linder, S. Rawitch, Z. Poer, P. Spoor

IdeaFest 2026

Excess stress negatively impacts health and well-being. The current study examined two accessible research-based methods of stress reduction: virtual nature exposure and slow breathing. Participants completed a stressful task and were then exposed to either a scene of nature or a grey control screen while breathing slowly or regularly (control). Physiological measures of stress were compared across groups. Results reaffirm slow breathing as beneficial for stress reduction. Virtual nature exposure did not impact stress levels independently and did not interact or add to the stress reducing impacts of slow breathing.

Analysis Of Policies And Incentives For The Successful Implementation Of Hydrogen-Fueled Medium-Duty And Heavy-Duty Vehicles In Humboldt County, California, Alka Verma

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The 21st century has seen a significant rise in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the transportation sector contributing 23% of these emissions. Medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles (MD/HD) are particularly impactful, accounting for over a quarter of transport-related emissions. In Humboldt County, California, transportation represents 53% of total emissions, with MD/HD vehicles being a major contributor. As light-duty vehicles shift to zero-emission alternatives, the MD/HD sector faces unique challenges. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer a promising solution, providing longer range, higher energy density, and quicker refueling compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). These features make hydrogen an attractive option for …

A Critical Toponymy Of Humboldt County: Ethics And Tensions Within Efforts To Change Place Names, Serenity Aleta Wood

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explores how Humboldt regional placenames enact toponymic silencing and how Indigenous activists challenge colonial names and geographies, advancing un-settled interpretations that position language revitalization/regeneration as a means of revitalizing relationships with the land. Mobilizing Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy’s concept of (re)naming, I analyze two case studies, the Baduwa’t documentary and the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation’s film A'-t'i Xwee-ghayt-nish: Still, We Live On, as well as three additional artistic works: Sarah Biscarra Dilley’s every pattern needs a passage, Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe’s Thunder Song, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s painting, State Names. In tandem with film and poetry analysis, I survey local …

Effects Of Conifer Encroachment On Oregon White Oak Crown Structure And Nonvascular Epiphyte Communities, Courtney Jonell Copper

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana, QUGA) is an ecologically and culturally important broadleaf tree species native to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Fire suppression and subsequent encroachment by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, PSME) and other conifers have made QUGA woodlands among the most threatened habitat types in the region. This study examines the influence of conifer encroachment on QUGA crown structure and nonvascular epiphyte (NVE) communities using ground- and crown-based sampling techniques.

Twenty-four trees were sampled across four sites in northern California along a gradient of conifer encroachment that was quantified as PSME basal area (BA). A …